Locomotive stoker



March 24, 1931. H-E UPPERT 1,797,871

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Filed July 6, 1929 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENHY E. LIPPERT, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR To NATHAN M. v LOWER, or BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA LocoHoTIvE aroma Applicationlled July 6, 1929. Serial N0. 376,301.

This invention relates tp mechanical stokers for locomotives of the type that transfers the fuel from the tender into the irebox through the lower portion of the tiring opening by screw conveyors.

An object of the invention is to provide a stoker in a locomotive and tender that will convey the fuel from the fuel bunker in the tender direct to fuel distributing means in the tiring opening of the'locomotive with very little forcing and abrasion, and to eliminate the universal joint between the screw conveyors which is present in .the latest type of locomotive stokers.

lt has been found that the coal becomes packed around this .universal joint and is greatly pulverized, with the result that a largeiamount ofthe line coal is drawn through the locomotive stack unburnt. By eliminat- 2e ing the joint between the screws and positioning the conduits so the coal will fall from one directly into the other a relatively coarser grade of coal will be delivered to the locomotive rebox and more economical tiring 1s obtained. u

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of .the following description and appended claims taken in connection with the accompanying so drawings, in which;

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view taken on the center-line of the locomotive, the tender, and the invention, showing the inventlon as applied thereon.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 with the ear box cover removed for the purpose of i ustrating the gearing, and also shows the method of supporting the fuel transfer conduit in the tender.

locomotive; 2, the cab; 3, thecab deck; 4, the backhead; 5, theI firing opening; 6, the locomotiveJ frame; 7, the tender; 8, the tender deck; 9, the coal bunker ;and 10, the com lete stoker.- The Stoker 10 comprises, a fue elevating conduit llanda fuel transfer conduit 12. The fuel elevating conduit 11 1s fixed on the locomotive and is provided at its rear end witha pocket 13 for receiving the downwardly extending pin 14 at the forward end of the In Figure 1v the numeral 1' designates the' fuel transfer conduit. Extending along the sides of the fuel transfer conduit 12 are the angle irons 15 (Figure 2) which rest on the fixed supports 16 in such a manner that the fuel transfer conduit 12 can rock vertically, slide horizontally, -or swing laterally in the compartment 17 beneath the tender deck. This construction permits angular movement between the locomotive and tender as. they travel on curves, cross-overs and turn-tables.

The coal falls from the coal bunker 9, through the opening 18 in the tender deck, and into the fuel transfer conduit 12. Slide plates 19 are, arranged in the tender deck to regulate the position of the opening 18. A sealing angle iron 20 is movably attached to the underside of the tender deck by the clips 21 and extends down into the fuel transfer conduit to prevent the coal from spilling out over the sides of the fuel transfer conduit.

The coal is moved along the fuel transfer conduit by the conveying screw 22 to its for ward end where it falls over the edge 23 into the fuel elevating conduit 11. The conveying screw 22 is driven from its rear end through Aof stokerparts adjacent the juncture of the conduits at a minimum so that Ythe Stoker can be, applied to a locomotive and tender having the conventional arrangement and location of the cab and tender decks with relation to the locomotive and tender frames, respectively. By constructing and testing one of applicants stokers, it was found that the restriction to the passage of coal through the spout did not materiall pulverize the lumps of coal. As the coal alls over the edge 23 of the fuel transfer conduit into the fuel elevating conduit a screw 26 moves the coal through the fuel elevating conduit direct to looY the top edge 27 where it falls by gravity onto a distributing table 28. The elevating screw 26 is connected at its lower rear end with the drive shaft 29 by the double universal joint 30. The drive shaft 29 extends along the underside of the-fuel t-ransfer conduit and comprises two telescopical-sections 31 and 32 to allow for the relative movement of the locomotive with the tender. A bearing 33 is provided at the forward end of the shaft 29 and is secured to the underside of the fuel transfer conduit. A gear 34 is mounted on the rear end of the shaft 29 and is in mesh with the gear 24. The gear 24 drives the gear 34 which turns the shaft-29 and drives the elevating screw 26 through the double universal oint 30. A sealing ring 35 at the lower rear en d of the elevating screw 26 prevents any coal dust from leaking out of the fuel eleif'ating conduit.

As the coal falls on the distributing table 28 it is discharged therefrom evenly over the firebed of the locomotive by a plurality of steam jets 36. The steam jets 36 are in communication with the cored passages 37 in the jet plate 38. The jet plate 38 forms a continuation of and is secured to the fuell elevating conduit. The cored passages 37 have pipe lines 39 leading to a source of pressure and suitable valves (not shown) for varying the pressure. For more accurate control of the distribution of the coal over the iirebed the side vanes 4() are provided for governing the flow of coal to the distributing table 28.

The fuel elevating conduit l1 slopes forwardly and upwardly from beneath the forward end of the fuel transfer conduit 12 to the lower portion ofthe firing opening 5. The fuel elevating conduit is secured to the backhead 4 in the well known manner (not shown) and is supported at its rear end by the bracket 4l. The liredoor 42 closes the remainder of the firing opening 5 above the fuel elevating conduit.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have invented a novel Stoker which will not reduce coal to an undesirable size, which has few movable parts, which can 1 eadily be applied on a locomotive and easily fitted into the room available.

Although I have shown and described what I believe is the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not want to be limited to this construction, except in-sofar as I have included such limitations within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a locomotive and tender, a stoker substantially longitudinal of the locomotive and tender having flexibly related conduits, a continuously actuated con-l veyor screw in each of the conduits, the forward end of one conduit being immediately above and extending beyond the rear end of the adjacent conduit and arranged so fuel will pass directly from one to the other without obstruction bythe driving mechanism for said screws'.

2. In combination, a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening, a tender, a stoker comprising a fuel transfer conduit movably mounted beneath the deck of the tender and a fuel elevating conduit in communication with said opening, the forward end of said transfer conduit being immediately above and extending beyond the rear end of said elevating conduit whereby fuel will pass downwardly from one to the other, and a conveyor screw in each of said conduits for delive ing the fuel therethrough.

3. In combination, a locomotive having a backhead provided with a liring opening, a

tender, .a fuel transfer conduit mounted beneath the deck of the tender, a substantially straight fuel elevating conduit in communication with said opening, said elevating conduit inclined at an angle less than forty-live degrees with the horizontal, a conveyor screw in each of said conduits, the forward end of said transfer conduit being immediately above the rear end of said elevating conduit and arranged so fuel will be conveyed to a point terminating shortof the forward end of said transfer conduit and pushed to its forward end where it will pass directly to said elevating conduit, and be conveyed through said elevating conduit to said opening.

4. In combination, a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening, a tender, a stoker comprising a fuel transfer conduit mounted beneath the deck of the tender and a substantially straight fuel elevating conduit inclined at an angle less than forty-five degrees with the horizontal and in communication with said opening, the rear end of said elevating conduit being immediately beneath the forward end of the transfer conduit, and conveyor screws in both said conduits driven separately at their rear ends.

5. In. combination, a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening, a tender, a Stoker comprising a fuel transfer conduit `beneath the deck of the tender and a fuel elevating conduit mounted on the locomotive in communication with said opening, the rear end of said elevating conduit being immediately beneath the forward end of said transfer conduit and arranged so there will be direct passage of fuel from one conduit to the ing a deck; a stoker comprising a fuel transfer conduit mounted in the tender beneath the deck and an inclined elevator conduit screw in ythe elevator conduit unversally jointed to and driven by a shaft extending along the underside of the transfer conduit through said gearing. s l

7. In -a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening and a tender having a deck; a Stoker comprising a transfer conduit muntedvin the tender beneath the deck and an inclined elevator conduit on the locomotive Vin communication with said opening, the rearend of the el vater conduit -the transfer conduit into the elevator conduit, a conveyorscrew in each of'said cencults, a gearncase at the rear of thegt'ransfer forwardly from said gear case and said screws at their. rear ends,- u

8. ln a locomotive `having a backhead provided with a firing opening and a tender having a deck; a Stoker comprising a transfer conduit mounted in the tender beneath the deck and an elevator conduit on the locomotive in communication with said openiu ,the rear end of the elevator conduit being elow the forward end of` the transfer conduitr whereby fuel will fall from the transfer conduit into the elevator conduit, a conveyor screw in the transfer conduit driven at its rear end, a conveyor screw in the elevator conduit having its rear end directly beneath the forward end of the transfer conduit and arcnnduit', and a plurality of shafts extnding riving iing a deck; a stoker for transferring fuel continuously from the tender to the firing opening, said stoker comprisin a transfer conduit mounted substantially on 'tudinal ofthe tender beneath the deck an a single straight inclined elevator conduit on the locomotive in communication with said opening, the forward end of the transfer conduit being immediately above and extending to or beyond the rear end of the elevator conduit whereby fuel will fall from the transfer conduit into the elevator conduit, a conveyor screw in the transfer conduit driven at its rear end, and a conveyor screw in the elevator conduit for transferring fuel through the entire length of the conduit to said opening..v

l ln testimony whereof I ailix m signature.

HENRY E. L PPERT. y

ranged so fuel will be continuously removed from the v rear portion of the elevator conuit as it is received from the transfer cone uit.

9.( In Va locomotive having a backhead rovided with a ring opening and a tender avking a deck; av Stoker comprising a transfer y conduit movably mounted in the tender bebeing driven at their rear ends and arranged so fuel will be transferred from the tender to said opening without a exible screw connection in the path of the fuel.

10. In a locomotive having a backhead ro-f vided with a firing opening and a tender llfl ' ico DISCLAIMER 1,797 ,SHQ-Henry El Lippert', Pittsburgh, Pa. VLoCoMo'rIvE STOKER. Patent dated March 24, 1931. Disclaimer filed January 30, 1932, by the assignee, lThe Standard Stoker Company, Inc. l

Hereby yenters this disclaimer to that part of the claimin said specification which is in the following. words, to wit:

' 1'. The combination with a locomotive and tender, a stoker substantially longitudinal of the locomotive and tender h aving flexibly related conduits, a continuously actuated conveyor screw in each of the conduits, the forward end of one conduit being immediately above and extending beyond the rear end of the adjacent conduit and arranged so fuel will pass directly from one to the other without obstruction by the driving mechanism forsaid screws.

2. In combination, a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening,

a tender, a Stoker comprising a fuel transfer conduit movably mounted beneath the deck of the tender and a fuel elevating conduit in communication with said opening, the forward end of said transfer conduit being immediately above and extending beyond the rear end of said elevating conduit whereby fuel will pass downwardly from one to the other, and a conveyor screw in each of said conduits-for delivering the fuel therethrough.

3. In combination, a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening, a tender, a fuel transfer' conduit mounted beneath the deck of the tender, a'substantially straight fuel elevating conduit'in communication with said opening, said elevating conduit inclined at an angle less than forty-five degrees with the horizontal, a conveyor screw in each of said conduits, the forward end of said transfer conduit being immediately above the rear end of said elevating conduit and arranged so fuel willbe conveyed to a point terminating short of the forward end of said transfer conduit and pushed to its forward end where it will pass directly to said elevating conduit,

and be conveyed through said elevating conduit to said opening.

4. In combination, a locomotive having abackhead provided with a firing opening, a tender, a Stoker comprising a fuel transferconduit mounted beneath the deck of the tender and a substantially straight fuel elevating conduit inclined at an angle less than forty-five degrees with the horizontal and in communication with said opening,

the rear end of said elevating conduit being immediatelybeneath the forward end of the transfer conduit, and conveyor screws in both said conduits driven separately at their rear ends.

8. 'In a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening and a tender having a deck; a stoker comprising aI transfer conduit mounted in the tender beneathA the deck and an elevator conduit on the locomotive in communication with said opening, lthe rear end of the elevator conduit being below the forward end of the transfer conduit whereby fuel will fall from the transfer conduit" into the elevator conduit, a conveyor screw in the transfer conduit driven at its rear end, a conveyor screw in the elevator conduit having its rear end directly beneath the forward end of the transfer conduit and arranged so fuel will be continuously removed from the rear portion of the' elevator conduit as Vit is received from the transfer conduit.

9. In a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening and a tender having a deck; a stoker comprising a transfer conduit movably mounted in the tender beneaththe deck-and 'an elevator conduit rigidly'secured tothe `locomotive iii-com,v1

munication with said opening, the rear end of the elevator conduit being immediately below the forward end of the transfer conduit, the forward end of the transfer conduit extending to or beyond the rear end of the elevator conduit and positioned so fuel will pass directly into the elevatorconduit; conveyor screws in both said conduits,

both said screws being driven at their rear ends and arranged so fuel will be transferred from the tender to said pening without a flexbile screw connection in the path of the fuel.

10Q In a locomotive having a backhead provided with a firing opening and a tender having a deck a stoker for transferring fuel continuously from the tender to the firing opening, said Stoker comprising a transfer conduit mounted substantially longitudinal of the tender beneath the deck and a single straight inclined elevator conduit. p

on the locomotive in communication with said opening, the forward end of the transfer conduit being immediately above and extending to or beyond the rear end of the elevator conduit whereby fuel will fall from the transfer conduit into the elevator conduit, a conveyor screw in the transfer conduit driven at its rear end, and a'conveyor screw in the elevator conduit for transferring fuel through the entire length of the conduit to said opening.

[Oficial Gazette March 1, 1.932.] 

